Sawmill game

ABSTRACT

A sawmill game has a housing defining an inclined passageway, and at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway. A simulated saw wheel is mounted on a shaft extending through the housing. A disc is mounted on the shaft and arranged to extend into the passageway to engage and be rotated by a passing article. At least two manipulating devices each having a longitudinally extending member with two spaced apart ends, a hook formed at one end and a loop pivotally mounted at the other end, are used to manipulate the article and place the article in the passageway.

United States Patent mi Thompson 1 July 10, 1973 SAWMILL GAME Primary Exlunincr- Richard (I linkhum Assistant Examiner Paul li. Shapiro 46 [76] Inventor img i gzgg gg g Iowa Attornew-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B.

50703 Jacobson [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 184,532 A sawmill game has a housing defining an inclined passageway, and at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway. A 2% 5 273/1 simulated saw wheel is mounted on a shaft extending I d 46/40 4 I through the housing. A disc is mounted on the shaft and 1 o are 46/39 arranged to extend into the passageway to engage and be rotated by a passing article. At least two manipu1ating devices each having a longitudinally extending [56] References Clted member with two spaced apart ends, a hook formed at UNITED STATES PATENTS one end and a loop pivotally mounted at the other end, 1,758,061 5/1930 Rentz et all 46/42 are used to manipulate the article and place the article 1,408,412 2/1922 Sliw0rsky....... ..'46/42 in the a sa ewa 2,732,958 1/1956 Bonanno 46/40 X p g y 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 SAWMILL GAME It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel game as an amusement.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by providing housing means defining an inclined passageway, at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway, means mounted in the housing means for rotation with respect thereto and arranged for being rotated by engagement with the article as the article passes through the passageway, and means for manipulating the article and for placing the article in the passageway.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention has a longitudinally extending tube with two spaced apart, open ends and at least one wall defining the passage way, and an opening defined in the wall for permitting the means for rotation to engage the article.

A preferred embodiment of the means for manipulating the article has a longitudinally extending member with two spaced apart ends, an article encircling loop pivotally mounted at one end of the member, and a projecting hook on the loop for lifting an article.

A preferred embodiment of the means for rotation has a shaft passing through the housing means and mounted for rotation with respect thereto, a simulated circular saw blade mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and outside of the housing means, and friction means mounted on the shaft and arranged for engagement with the article for rotation thereby to rotate the shaft and circular saw blade. The friction means may be a disc.

Further, the article and the tube preferrably have circular cross sections.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a housing for a game according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the housing of FIG. 1, together with an article and two manipulators.

FIG. 3 is a group perspective view of an article and a manipulator according to the present invention.

FIG. I of the drawings shows a housing defining an inclined passageway 12 simulating a log chute or flume. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the housing has a simulated trestle slide 14 and a contoured background 16. A simulated circular saw blade 18 is mounted on a shaft 20 as by a press fit for rotation therewith. Shaft 20 passes through the sidewalls of housing 10. A simulated saw blade drive 22 may also be represented on housing 10.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows passageway 12 to be defined by a longitudinally extending tube 24 having open ends 26 and 28 and a wall 30 between them. Wall 30 defines an opening 32 for permitting a disc 34 mounted on shaft 20 for rotation therewith to engage an article 36 passing through passageway 12. Slots 38 (only one 6 of which is shown) in which shaft 20 is mounted are preferrably defined in walls 11 of housing 10 for readily permitting an article 36 to passunder disc 34. Article 36 is shown held by a pair of manipulaErs 40.

FIG. 3 of the drawing shows a manipulator 40 and an article 36. As can be seen, article 36 is an elongated simulated log having a circular cross-section. Article 36 is dimensioned relative to tube 24 so as to pass through passageway 12. Manipulator 40 has a longitudinally extending member 42 with two spaced apart ends 44 and 46. A reverse bend handle 48 is formed at end 46, and a loop 50 is pivotally mounted in eye 52 at end 44. Member 42 and loop 50 are preferrably constructed from, wire, for example, the knot 54 holding together the ends of the piece of wire forming the loop 50 and including a free end 56 inclined toward the center of the loop to define a hook by which the logs may be lifted.

The housing 10 for the game sawmill is manufactured from, for example, molded plastic. The articles 36 sliding down wall 30 of tube 24 will engage disc 34 and rotate shaft 20 and saw blade 18.

In an alternative embodiment, the saw blade 18 could be mounted to the shaft of a battery operated motor (not shown) that would be actuated to rotate the saw blade when an article 36 engaged three-fourths contacts of a normally open switch (not shown). Furthermore, a conveyor belt (not shown) could be provided for carrying the article 36 through the housing 10.

The game may be made up of a housing 10, known as sawmill, four logs which are, for example, 3 inches by five-eighths inch, and four manipulators 6 inches long with three-fourth inch loop. The hook 56 may be, for example, one-fourth inch, and is used to stand logs on end so they may be picked up with the loop 50.

Housing 10 may be, for example, 7 9% inches long by 5 inches high, by 2 inches wide, and tube 24 may be three-fourths inch in diameter.

The game may be played by one to four players. The object of the game is to see which player can first get his log, or article 36 into the sawmill or housing 10. The logs, or articles 36 must be picked up by using the manipulators only, and cannot be touched by the hand. If two or more players have their logs, or articles 36 picked up by means of one or two manipulators 40- at the same time, each player can try to make the other players drop their log, or article 36 by striking the other players log, or article 36 with his own log, or article 36.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game comprising, in combination;

a. a housing means defining an inclined passageway;

b. at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway;

c. means mounted in said housing means for rotation with respect thereto and arranged for being rotated by engagement with said article as said article passes through the passageway; and

d. means for manipulating said article and placing said article in the passageway, the means for manipulating having a longitudinally extending member with two spaced apart ends, an article encircling loop pivotally mounted at one end of the member, and a projecting hook on said loop for lifting the article.

2. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means has a longitudinally extending tube with two spaced apart, open ends and at least one wall defining the passageway, and an opening defined in said wall for permitting the means for rotation to engage said article.

3. A game as defined in claim 2, wherein said article and said tube have circular cross-sections.

4. A game comprising, in combination;

a. housing means defining an inclined passageway, and having a longitudinally extending tube with two spaced apart, open ends and at least one wall defining the passageway, and an opening defined in said wall for permitting the means for rotation to engage said article;

. at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway;

c. means mounted in said housing means for rotation with respect thereto and arranged for being rotated by engagement with said article as said article passes through the passageway, the means for rotation having a shaft passing through said housing means and mounted for rotation with respect thereto, a simulated circular saw blade mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and arranged outside of said housing means, and friction means mounted on said shaft and arranged in the opening defined in said wall for engagement with said article for rotation thereby to rotate said shaft and simulated circular saw blade; and

(1. means for manipulating said article and placing said article in the passageway.

5. A game as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing means has parallel, spaced apart side walls defining slots in which shaft is mounted so as to be movable for permitting said article to pass said friction means.

6. A game as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for manipulating has a longitudinally extending member with two spaced apart ends, an article encircling loop pivotally mounted at one end of the member, and a projecting hook on said loop for lifting the article, wherein said friction means is a disc, and wherein said article and said tube have circular cross-sections.

7. A game as defined in claim 4, wherein said friction means is a disc.

8. An amusement device for simulating a sawmill operation comprising an inclined chute, a circular member rotatably supported from the chute, said member included a toothed edge simulating a circular saw blade, a plurality of elongated members simulating logs for movement down the chute, and means operative in response to movement of a simulated log down the chute to rotate said simulated saw blade, said means rotating said simulated saw blade including a drive member frictionally engaged by the simulated logs as they move down the chute. 

1. A game comprising, in combination; a. a housing means defining an inclined passageway; b. at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway; c. means mounted in said housing means for rotation with respect thereto and arranged for being rotated by engagement with said article as said article passes through the passageway; and d. means for manipulating said article and placing said article in the passageway, the means for manipulating having a longitudinally extending member with two spaced apart ends, an article encircling loop pivotally mounted at one end of the member, and a projecting hook on said loop for lifting the article.
 2. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means has a longitudinally extending tube with two spaced apart, open ends and at least one wall defining the passageway, and an opening defined in said wall for permitting the means for rotation to engage said article.
 3. A game as defined in claim 2, wherein said article and said tube have circular cross-sections.
 4. A game comprising, in combination; a. housing means defining an inclined passageway, and having a longitudinally extending tube with two spaced apart, open ends and at least one wall defining the passageway, and an opening defined in said wall for permitting the means for rotation to engage said article; b. at least one discrete article of finite length dimensioned to pass through the passageway; c. means mounted in said housing means for rotation with respect thereto and arranged for being rotated by engagement with said article as said article passes through the passageway, the means for rotation having a shaft passing through said housing means and mounted for rotation with respect thereto, a simulated circular saw blade mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and arranged outside of said housing means, and friction means mounted on said shaft and arranged in the opening defined in said wall for engagement with said article for rotation thereby to rotate said shaft and simulated circular saw blade; and d. means for manipulating said article and placing said article in the passageway.
 5. A game as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing means has parallel, spaced apart side walls defining slots in which shaft is mounted so as to be movable for permitting said article to pass said friction means.
 6. A game as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for manipulating has a longitudinally extending member with two spaced apart ends, an article encircling loop pivotally mounted at one end of the member, and a projecting hook on said loop for lifting the article, wherein said friction means is a disc, and wherein said article and said tube have circular cross-sections.
 7. A game as defined in claim 4, wherein said friction means is a disc.
 8. An amusement device for simulating a sawmill operation comprising an inclined chute, a circular member rotatably supported from the chute, said member included a toothed edge simulating a circular saw blade, a plurality of elongated members simulating logs for movement down the chute, and means operative in response to movement of a simulated log down the chute to rotate said simulated saw blade, said means rotating said simulated saw blade including a drive member frictionally engaged by the simulated logs as they move down the chute. 